Washington, D.C., October 21, 2009—IFC,
a member of the World Bank Group, is providing a $10 million loan to Celsol
S.A. de C.V., known as Optima Energia, to implement up to six energy-saving
projects in Mexico’s hotel sector.
Optima Energia provides complete energy-
efficient solutions to clients in the hotel field. It also provides
in-depth energy analyses of hotel properties, designs energy- efficient
solutions, and installs the required equipment.
The company will work with local clients
to maintain their system during a multiple-year contract period, while
financing the hotel’s energy equipment investment. This complete
energy- saving service package, which is still nascent in Mexico, will
help improve energy performance in the country’s hotel sector.
“We look forward to a long-lasting
relationship with IFC,” said Enrique Gomez Junco, Chief Executive Officer
and Founder of Optima Energia. “This investment will help increase energy-saving
investments in the Mexican hotel sector, and allow our clients to reduce
their environmental footprint by cutting energy and water costs by at least
40 percent on average.”
Atul Mehta, IFC Director for Latin America
and the Caribbean, said, “This is IFC’s first direct investment in an
energy-services company in the region, and we are very pleased to support
Optima Energia. The company’s innovative approach to reducing greenhouse-gas
emissions in Mexico is aligned with IFC’s strategy to support local projects
that help mitigate climate change.”
Since 2000, Optima has saved for its
clients 24 million liters of liquefied gas, 20 million liters of diesel,
8 million cubic meters of potable water, 145 million kilowatt-hours, and
186,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which translates into savings
of $14 million a year.
IFC’s strategy in Mexico focuses on
supporting the competitiveness of the private sector, promoting access
to finance for underserved segments, supporting infrastructure development,
and investing in areas newly opened to private-sector participation. IFC
also promotes sustainability and supports projects to improve investment
climate for local firms. As of June 2009, IFC’s committed portfolio in
the country was $850 million, its fifth largest in the Latin America and
the Caribbean region. For more information about IFC in Latin America and
the Caribbean, visit: www.ifc.org/lac.
About IFC
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group,
creates opportunity for people to escape poverty and improve their lives.
We foster sustainable economic growth in developing countries by supporting
private sector development, mobilizing private capital, and providing advisory
and risk mitigation services to businesses and governments. Our new investments
totaled $14.5 billion in fiscal 2009, helping channel capital into developing
countries during the financial crisis. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
About Optima Energia
Founded in 1988 as solar-energy systems
developing company, Optima now offers energy-saving services to reduce
the consumption of electricity, fuel, and water in response to the need
for more comprehensive energy-related services in the Mexican market. To
date, the company has carried out more than 100 energy-saving contracts
in a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.optimaenergia.com.
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